Recreational Board Carrier

ABSTRACT

A method of collapsing a board carrier that has a central portion having a pocket and a remainder section. The carrier also has shoulder straps and board-retaining tension members, some of which are attached to the exterior surface of the pocket. The pocket is inverted, thereby pulling the portions of shoulder straps and tension members attached to the exterior surface of the pocket into the inverted pocket. Then, all remaining straps and tension members and the remainder section are stuffed into the pocket, thereby creating a compact packet.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from provisional application Ser. No.61/924,068, filed on Jan. 6, 2014, which is incorporated by reference asif fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

Many devices are known for carrying skis, snowboards and surfboards. Yeta visit to a snowboarding venue will reveal many persons struggling tocarry their boards. Some carriers require the wearer to carry the boarddiagonally, or even horizontally, which is awkward. One design iscollapsible, but would appear to require careful folding and then themutual attachment of corresponding pieces of hook and loop material,which could prove a challenge to those whose minds are focused onathletic pursuits. Another collapsible design appears to require eitherthe assistance of another, or else taking the device off from around theuser's waist, and then fitting it back around the waist, which againrequires a good degree of coordination and patience on the part of theuser.

SUMMARY

The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described andillustrated in conjunction with systems, tools and methods which aremeant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. Invarious embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems havebeen reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed toother improvements.

In a first separate aspect, the present invention may take the form of asnowboard carrier that has a central portion made of flexible materialand that has a pocket section that defines a pocket, and a remaindersection, which includes all of the central portion other than the pocketsection. The central portion defines a longitudinal dimension and atransverse dimension, along which it is shorter than along thelongitudinal dimension. Also, a pair of shoulder straps are eachattached at a pair of longitudinally spaced-apart positions of thecentral portion and a first board-retaining tension member is attachedto the central portion at two positions that are mutually spaced-aparttransversely, but that are substantially aligned longitudinally.Further, a second board-retaining tension member is attached to thecentral portion at two positions that are mutually spaced-aparttransversely, but that are substantially aligned longitudinally, andthat is displaced longitudinally from the first board-retaining tensionmember. Additionally, the pocket is sized to accept and retain theshoulder straps, the board-retaining tension members and the remaindersection. Finally, the pocket can be inverted and the shoulder straps,the board-retaining tension members and the remainder section can bestuffed into the inverted pocket, to quickly transform the snowboardcarrier into a compact packet.

In a second separate aspect, the present invention may take the form ofa board and carrier assembly, comprising a recreational board, having alength, thereby defining a longitudinal dimension, and having atransverse dimension perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension. Also,a board carrier, has first and second tension members connected aboutthe board at longitudinally spaced positions, and a central portionconnecting the first and second tension members, made of flexiblematerial and having a pocket section that defines a pocket, and aremainder section including all of the central portion other than thepocket section. Further, a pair of shoulder straps are each attached ata pair of longitudinally spaced positions. Finally, the pocket is sizedto accept and retain the shoulder straps, the snowboard straps and theremainder section, when inverted. Whereby, the pocket can be invertedand the shoulder straps, the snowboard straps and the remainder sectioncan be stuffed into the pocket, to quickly transform the snowboardcarrier into a compact packet, after it has been removed from the board.

In a third separate aspect, the present invention may take the form of amethod of collapsing a board carrier that has a central portion having apocket and a remainder section. The carrier also has shoulder straps andboard-retaining tension members, some of which are attached to theexterior surface of the pocket. The pocket is inverted, thereby pullingthe portions of shoulder straps and tension members attached to theexterior surface of the pocket into the inverted pocket. Then, allremaining straps and tension members and the remainder section arestuffed into the inverted pocket, thereby creating a compact packet.

In addition to the exemplary aspects and embodiments described above,further aspects and embodiments will become apparent by reference to thedrawings and by study of the following detailed descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric bottom side view of a snowboard carrier,according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an isometric bottom side view of the snowboard carrier of FIG.1, in a different configuration.

FIG. 3 an isometric front bottom view of the carrier of FIG. 1, placedabout a snowboard.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the carrier and snowboard combination ofFIG. 3, from a perspective point above and to the side of the top of thesnowboard.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the carrier and snowboard combination ofFIG. 3, being carried by a user, from a perspective point behind, to theside of and above the user.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the snowboard carrier of FIG. 1, foldedup into itself, to form a compact packet.

Exemplary embodiments are illustrated in referenced drawings. It isintended that the embodiments and figures disclosed herein are to beconsidered illustrative rather than restrictive.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 an embodiment of a snowboard carrier 10,includes a central portion 12 that includes first sheet of flexiblematerial 14 and a second sheet of flexible material 16, which togetherdefine a pocket 18. The flexible material of sheets 14 and 16 can be anycloth or webbing that can be cut to shape and which are strong enough tohold a snowboard as it is being carried, including, for example,rip-stop nylon. An upper snowboard strap 20 (which may also be morebroadly described as a “tension member”), including a buckle 22, and alower snowboard strap 24, including a buckle 26, are attached to the topand bottom of the central portion 12, respectively. Also, shoulderstraps 28 each extend from an attachment point at the top of centralportion 12 to an attachment point at the bottom of central portion 12.In one embodiment the central portion 12 is 22.5 inches tall, 7.5 incheswide at its base, tapering to 5 inches wide at its top.

Referring to FIG. 3-5, in use on a snowboard 30, the lower strap 24 isconnected together by buckle 26 to extend beneath the bottom of a pairof snowboard bindings 32 and the upper strap 20 is connected together bybuckle 22, to extend over the top of the pair of snowboard bindings 32,to securely retain the board. In one embodiment, buckles 22 and 26 alsopermit the length adjustment of straps 20 and 24, respectively. Thispermits various sizes of boards to be accommodated and also permits thestraps to be tightened around the board 30.

In an alternative embodiment, straps 20 and 24 do not include releasablebuckles such as buckles 22 and 26, but may include non-releasablebuckles that permit straps 20 and 24 to be loosened to fit aroundbindings 32 and then cinched up, to retain board 30. In a furtheralternative, straps 20 and 24 may take the form of elastic members, suchas bungees, which may by stretched outwardly to fit over bindings 32,and then permitted to elastically contract to retain board 30. Thetransverse curvature of the board 30, expanding as snowboards typicallydo at the top and bottom, helps to keep the board 30 retained by thecarrier 10. The shoulder straps 28 permit a user to easily carry theboard, as shown (FIG. 5).

Carrier 10 may include a large marking on the back side of centralportion 12, such as a gold “X” against a black background. This permitsa user to apprehend quickly which side he is viewing, when he is in theprocess of attaching carrier 10 about a board 30.

Referring to FIG. 6, after use, the carrier 10 may be collapsed into asmall packet by inverting the pocket, to form an inverted pocket 40.This action pulls lower strap 24 and the lower portion of the shoulderstraps 28 into the inverted pocket 40. The remainder of the centralportion 12, the top strap 20 and the top of shoulder straps 24 are thenstuffed into inverted pocket 40, to form a small packet, suitable forbeing placed in the pocket of a pair of ski pants, for the trip down thehill.

Skilled persons will appreciate that carrier 10 has many advantages overcurrently available carriers. First, the board 30 may be carriedvertically so that it does not stick out on either side, potentiallyknocking into a nearby person if the person carrying a snowboard were toturn suddenly. Also the vertical position avoids potentially knockinginto a doorway that the user might wish to pass through. In analternative manner of use, however, a shoulder strap 28 may be liftedover the head of the user, so that it is then retained in the corner ofthe neck and shoulder, with the strap 28 diagonally crossing the user'schest. This allows the board to be 30 to be easily placed in carryingposition with a single swinging motion. In either manner of use, theboard is carried securely and will not swing wildly from side to side.Finally, carrier 10 is easily collapsible, without any need for carefulfolding or alignment of material. Also, carrier 10 collapses into aneasily managed packet, which may be slipped into the pocket of a skisuit.

While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have been discussedabove, those possessed of skill in the art will recognize certainmodifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. Itis therefore intended that the following appended claims and claimshereafter introduced are interpreted to include all such modifications,permutations, additions and sub-combinations as are within their truespirit and scope.

1. A snowboard carrier, comprising: (a) a central portion made offlexible material and having a pocket section that defines a pocket, anda remainder section including all of said central portion other thansaid pocket section, said central portion defining a longitudinaldimension and a transverse dimension, along which it is shorter thanalong said longitudinal dimension; (b) a pair of shoulder straps, eachattached at a pair longitudinally spaced-apart positions of said centralportion; (c) a first board-retaining tension member attached to saidcentral portion at two positions that are mutually spaced-aparttransversely, but that are substantially aligned longitudinally; (d) asecond board-retaining tension member attached to said central portionat two positions that are mutually spaced-apart transversely, but thatare substantially aligned longitudinally, and that is displacedlongitudinally from said first board-retaining tension member. (e) saidpocket being sized to accept and retain said shoulder straps, saidboard-retaining tension members and said remainder section; and (f)whereby said pocket can be inverted and said shoulder straps, saidboard-retaining tension members and said remainder section can bestuffed into said inverted pocket, to quickly transform said snowboardcarrier into a compact packet.
 2. The snowboard carrier of claim 1,wherein said first and second board-retaining tension members eachinclude a releasable connector.
 3. The snowboard carrier of claim 2,wherein said releasable connectors are buckles.
 4. The snowboard carrierof claim 2, wherein each said releasable connector is centrally locatedon each said board-retaining tension member.
 5. The snowboard carrier ofclaim 1, wherein each said board-retaining tension member issubstantially inelastic.
 6. The snowboard carrier of claim 1, whereinsaid first board-retaining tension member is longitudinally displacedfrom said second board-retaining tension member by between 1.5 and 2feet.
 7. The snowboard carrier of claim 1, wherein said first and secondboard-retaining tension members are straps.
 8. A board and carrierassembly, comprising: (a) a recreational board, having a length, therebydefining a longitudinal dimension, and having a transverse dimensionperpendicular to said longitudinal dimension; (b) a board carrier,having: (i) first and second tension members connected about said boardat longitudinally spaced positions; (ii) a central portion connectingsaid first and second tension members, made of flexible material andhaving a pocket section that defines a pocket, and a remainder sectionincluding all of said central portion other than said pocket section;and (iii) a pair of shoulder straps each attached at a pair oflongitudinally spaced positions; and (c) said pocket being sized toaccept and retain said shoulder straps, said snowboard straps and saidremainder section, when inverted; and (d) whereby said pocket can beinverted and said shoulder straps, said snowboard straps and saidremainder section can be stuffed into said inverted pocket, to quicklytransform said snowboard carrier into a compact packet, after it hasbeen removed from said board.
 9. The board and carrier assembly of claim8, wherein said recreational board includes first and second bootbindings and further wherein said boot bindings are between said firstand second tension members, with said first boot binding abutting saidfirst tension member and said second boot binding abutting said secondtension member.
 10. The board and carrier assembly of claim 8, whereinsaid recreational board varies in transverse dimension over its lengthand wherein said tension members are sufficiently tightly fitted so thatsaid recreational board is retained at least in part by having sectionsthat are too wide to fit through said straps.
 11. The board and carrierassembly of claim 8, wherein said first and second tension members eachinclude a releasable connector.
 12. The board and carrier assembly ofclaim 11, wherein said releasable connectors are buckles.
 13. The boardand carrier assembly of claim 11, wherein each said releasable connectoris centrally located on each said tension member.
 14. The board andcarrier assembly of claim 8, wherein each said tension member issubstantially inelastic.
 15. The board and carrier assembly of claim 8,wherein said first tension member is longitudinally displaced from saidsecond tension member by between 1.5 and 2 feet.
 16. The board andcarrier assembly of claim 8, wherein said first and second tensionmembers are straps.
 17. A method of collapsing a board carrier,comprising: (a) providing a board carrier having: (i) a central portionhaving a pocket section defining a pocket having an exterior surface,and a remainder section, including all of said central portion otherthan said pocket section; (ii) shoulder straps; (iii) board-retainingtension members; and (iv) wherein some of said straps are attached tosaid exterior surface of said pocket; (b) inverting said pocket andthereby pulling said portions of shoulder straps and tension membersattached to said exterior surface of said pocket, into said invertedpocket and stuffing all remaining straps and tension members and saidremainder section into said pocket, thereby creating a compact packet.18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of placing saidcompact packet into a snowsuit pocket.
 19. The snowboard carrier ofclaim 17, wherein said first and second board-retaining tension memberseach include a releasable connector.
 20. The snowboard carrier of claim19, wherein said releasable connectors are buckles.